Diggs99 First grow, Lets talk about it!

[Laughing Grass]

I need to figure out why my stock and stems were all so small, i think that hurt my yield aswell, comparing to other growers, mine were real small and thin

Gonna have to find out what @Renfro is using to get those tree trunks, bigger roots bigger fruits and all that stuff.

Are you using any silica additives?

 

[H.A.F.]

OH! I add Silica Blast a few times during the grow. Made by the cal-mag people. Read about it. It might be part of your answer.

 

[diggs99]

Now that you see what you're in for, you'll come up with short-cuts. For me, when I have finally decided to harvest

I try to snip all the big fan stems off while she's still standing if that helps. ​

I go ahead and start pruning them a few days in advance of the chop so it's not one big chore on chop day.

the next to come down will be very bare compared to this one, yep, ill begin removing her leaves while shes finishing up her last few days.

 

[H.A.F.]

Are you using any silica additives?

LOL great minds and whatnot

 

[diggs99]

Are you using any silica additives?

OH! I add Silica Blast a few times during the grow. Made by the cal-mag people. Read about it. It might be part of your answer.

I have amor si from general hydroponics now

only recently bought it, it wasnt used on this grow at all

 

[H.A.F.]

While we are on the topic, I bought the pack of stuff from FF that was basically extra additives. So in addition to the silica I add manganese a few times during the grow, there's one with kelp, one with mackerel guts, etc.

Now that I am thinking about ditching the FF original trio, I am looking harder at those additives and what could or should not be used with other nutes later on. BUT - I am only trying the other nutes. The FF full-line of everything is what got me my best harvest...

 

[H.A.F.]

Maybe the trick would be the wide variety of stuff, but at lower doses. That might be my control for the contest experiment - since I know that system

Edited: something else is that when doing "50%" feedings, I was doing 50% on everything. Might need to be more specific with my choices and just go 50% on the actual nutes, but closer to 100% on the extra additives.

 

[diggs99]

I dont think im gonna bother with the competition anymore

The seeds i want to grow next still arent here and id rather grow them next over playing in the comp

maybe next time.

 

[H.A.F.]

I dont think im gonna bother with the competition anymore

The seeds i want to grow next still arent here and id rather grow them next over playing in the comp

maybe next time.

I am growing seeds anyway LOL This is just an excuse. With all my tomatoes and peppers to keep me busy, I haven't dropped one yet. Might as well drop them all at the same time.

 

[H.A.F.]

And I need to decide on nutes anyway.

 

[diggs99]

Here's the updated pic of the tent with 3 girls instead of 4

Atomic is in the front
Fp1 back left
FP3 back right

 

[Renfro]

I think stem size has a lot to do with genetics. With say Kandy Kush or Juicy Fruit I would get trunks that were 1.5 inches wide! Same size plant of most other strains, like gorilla glue end up about .75 inches wide. But we aren't growing for stem weight! lol Juicy Fruit was one of the most miserable yielders I ever grew but she had enough lumber to build a bonfire!

 

[Renfro]

I only started using the Si about 2 years ago, don't really think it does much but I have it so I just keep using it. When I run out I will probably just skip it. I hear a lot of ppl say plants don't even eat it anyways. Who knows, but I did over 25 years of growing without it, mostly in hydro. Probably just a waste of money.

 

[diggs99]

I think stem size has a lot to do with genetics. With say Kandy Kush or Juicy Fruit I would get trunks that were 1.5 inches wide! Same size plant of most other strains, like gorilla glue end up about .75 inches wide. But we aren't growing for stem weight! lol Juicy Fruit was one of the most miserable yielders I ever grew but she had enough lumber to build a bonfire!

Thats good to know, i see some plants in same pots and medium with monster stock, i was a little concerned i was missing something.

I only started using the Si about 2 years ago, don't really think it does much but I have it so I just keep using it. When I run out I will probably just skip it. I hear a lot of ppl say plants don't even eat it anyways. Who knows, but I did over 25 years of growing without it, mostly in hydro. Probably just a waste of money.

I started using it on the space cookies, their stems are def beefy and bigger than the fruit punch, but as you just said, that may be more to do with genetics than SI

 

[Gollyboy]

Diggs they looking good mate fair play 3 oz to a plant is nothing to complain about

 

[diggs99]

Diggs they looking good mate fair play 3 oz to a plant is nothing to complain about

Thanks man

I was hoping and aiming for 2oz per plant when it all started, felt that was a reasonable yield for a first timer, so if i can avg 3oz/plant ill be very happy for sure

 

[H.A.F.]

But we aren't growing for stem weight!

However - bigger stems can mean a bigger nute-delivery system - so it's not a bad thing to shoot for. also makes them more sturdy. I have yet to have to stake up a limb.

 

[diggs99]

I had to stake that one a few different times/ways, her buds were making her sag all over herself.

I got one more in the tent like it too, the biggest, gangliest girl of the bunch, shes soon gonna need support.

Atomic and fp3 are both stout plants, much more rigid than the other 2, i expect they will be fine without support. altho they also seem to be packing on buds from tops to bottom, so who knows lol

 

[H.A.F.]

I had to stake that one a few different times/ways, her buds were making her sag all over herself.

I got one more in the tent like it too, the biggest, gangliest girl of the bunch, shes soon gonna need support.

Atomic and fp3 are both stout plants, much more rigid than the other 2, i expect they will be fine without support. altho they also seem to be packing on buds from tops to bottom, so who knows lol

Look up plant yo-yo's. I bought a pack but haven't needed them yet. You hang them from above, and they have hook to put on the plant (or to something you tie to the plant) and it has a monofilament fishing line under light spring tension to constantly pull up on the limb.

 

[H.A.F.]

I was thinking that with a heavy manifold they might be needed, and you could just put a tall stake in each pot near the stem with them hooked to the top, and you could keep the thing self contained and not locked into the tent.